Datuk Rizalman Mokhtar at the Umno General Assembly on Friday. -Bernamapic

KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno delegate has appealed to the Government to stem the tide of the rising cost of living, describing it as a âpowder kegâ issue, but also acknowledged some measures were being taken.

While debating the presidential address, Federal Territories delegate Datuk Rizalman Mokhtar said the voting public is watching Barisan Nasional and the actions it is taking to tackle the rising cost of living.

âItâs not only the rakyat that is suffering â" even those in this hall are suffering â¦ trying to eke a living in the current scenario,â he said at the Umno General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Friday.

âIf not curtailed, it will be an uphill task for us to win the hearts of the people in the coming general election.

âSomething must be done about it, and we must start now.

âIf no concrete measures are taken, we may not get a two-thirds majority,â he added.

Rizalman, however, praised the Government for continuing to focus on the 1Malaysia Peopleâs Aid (BR1M) programme as well as the other measures initiated to lighten the rakyat's burden.

But he also called on the relevant ministries and departments to take action against businessmen who are profiting from the current economic situation and who were allegedly attempting to control prices.

âIf greedy businessmen are behind it ... if they are tryi ng to control the market and sabotage the Government, then we must use the law to take action against them," he said.